Crisis at Christmas

Inspired by our colleagues at TRS, staff at EPHS, choose to make a donation to the Crisis at Christmas appeal instead of sending Christmas cards and raised £145.30. 

This will buy five gifts of a Crisis Christmas to help those who are homeless this Christmas.

🎄Books into Film at Christmas🎅

Christmas is a great opportunity to snuggle up with a good book and we have a great selection for you to choose from!

If you're looking for inspiration, why not try reading one of the books that inspired the films that will be shown on TV, Netflix, iPlayer and Amazon Prime over Christmas?  

School Librarian, Helen Smith, has compiled her fantastic annual list of Christmas book and film tie-ins that are on TV over the Christmas period.  Click on the picture below to view:

EPHS Author-in-Residence Creative Writing Workshops

A group of EPHS Year 10 and 11 students have just completed a series of workshops with the highly acclaimed published author Rachel Seiffert, developing the skills, attitudes and behaviours that underpin success and achievement! 

Over the course of the First Story Young Writers Programme, a small, core group of 21 students have worked with the professional writer as a visible role model and inspiring mentor, on numerous writing projects, exploring a wide range of themes, writing styles and personal journeys.

They have received focused individual feedback and had time to share, discuss and progress – boosting vital communication, engagement, and resilience skills. The eight weeks have ended with an officially (soon to be) published anthology, capturing their beautiful work for everyone to read.

The feedback from the students themselves was overwhelmingly positive. When asked what they'd enjoyed, comments included:

"Freedom and encouragement to write whatever I want."

"Writing. I loved every second of it."

"Working in a creative space with an author."

When asked 'Do you take pleasure in writing/seeing yourselves as creative and now possess an increased desire to be creative?', 100% of the participating students said 'yes'.  Their comments included:

"I now enjoy expressing and telling my story through poems."

"This has influenced my love for writing, which I now want to do more of."

"I now have more motivation to write."

"I know have moved on to write on more interesting subjects."

"I have now experienced the joy of writing and want to write a book."

Contributor: Miss Altenburg, English Teacher, who set up and facilitated this amazing programme with First Story.

We were delighted to work with Miss Altenburg and host this amazing writing programme in the Upper Library, where students were able to spread out, collaborate and present their ideas and work. It was amazing to watch Rachel at work and see how she managed to so skilfully engage and draw out the creativity from all the students.  A copy of their anthology, once published, will be available in the Library and Rachel Seiffert's brilliant book The Dark Room, can be borrowed now from the Upper Library, and comes highly recommended by Mrs Nolan!

Inclusive Schools Week 2021

Today marks the start of the annual Inclusive Schools Week - a week long celebration and reflection on inclusivity within educational settings.  This year's theme is 'rebuilding our inclusive community together'.

All this week, EPHS students will be taking part in activities during form and across departmental lessons.

In the Library, we have created a great display of books that embrace difference and call for an end to bullying.  

Some of these titles appear on the Empathy Lab's  2021 Read for Empathy Collection.  All are available to browse and borrow from the Lower Library.

Wellbeing Christmas Advent Calendar 2021

Launched on Wellbeing Wednesday, 1st December, Mental Health UK 's festive advent calendar for 2021, offers wellbeing tips to support you through the festive season.

Check in everyday for new tips and activities by clicking here.  

Reading is a great way of supporting your mental wellbeing.  As well as a wealth of fiction, the Library has a great collection of books providing advice and guidance to help support your mental health.  If you need support with your mental health, visit the Young Minds website by clicking here.

Thank you to Mrs McLean, our wonderful EPHS staff wellbeing representative for flagging this up.